Qualifications of Applicants

No person will be appointed a Patrolman of the Municipal Police Force unless he :
1) Is able to read and write the English language understandingly.
2) Is a citizen of the United States.
3) Has been a resident of this State for a term of one year, next prior to his application for the office.
4) Has never been convicted of a crime.
5) Is at least five feet eight inches in height.
6) Is less than thirty=five years of age.
7) Is in good health, and of sound body and mind.
8) Is of good moral character and habits.

"Applicants for the office must present to the Board of Commissioners a petition signed by not less than five citizens of good character and habits, and verified by the affidavit of one of them."

The applicant is subjected to a rigid medical examination, by one or more of the most competent surgeons of the force. The standard of physical capacity is very high, and not more than one in ten of the applicants ever come up to it. Only sound and perfectly healthy men are wanted. Applicants must also state, under oath, their parentage, nationality, education, personal condition in every respect, their present business or employment, and physical condition.

The force is regularly drilled in military tactics by competent instructors, and the strictest discipline is maintained. Thus, in times of emergency, the force is capable of acting as a body of veteran soldiers. As a rule, the men are large, fine-looking fellows, and at their annual parades their martial bearing, steadiness and admirable discipline, never fail to win them hearty applause. The largest and finest-looking men are assigned to duty on Broadway. Nor is this for show only. The duties of a Broadway patrolman are arduous and exacting, and scarcely a day passes that does not add its testimony in favor of the wisdom of the rule that governs their selection.

That many of the members of the force are brutal wretches, and are only kept in their positions by political influence, is unfortunately true; but taken as a whole, the police of New York are a credit to the city. They have never failed in their duty in any emergency, and instances of individual courage and heroism are of daily occurrence.

The Duties of a Patrolman

The duties of a Patrolman are numerous and difficult. Each has a certain "beat" or district assigned him, which he must patrol and watch faithfully during his hours of duty. In some sections of the city these beats are very extensive, and it takes the Patrolman a considerable length of time to walk around his district. In such cases more is required of the man than he is capable of performing, for a crime by be committed in some part of his beat, when he is far away on another part , faithfully doing his duty. The Patrolman is expected to use the utmost vigilance to prevent the occurrence of crime or wrong-doing along his beat, or, at least, to use such vigilance as will render the commission of it difficult. He must keep an eye on all persons passing along his route after dark, examine frequently the doors, lower windows, cellar doors, and gates of the houses he guards; peer through the peepholes into the stores in which the gas is left burning, to see that all is quiet and safe; to have a general knowledge of the occupants of the houses along his beat; to report to the officer in charge of his station "all persons suspected of being policy dealers, gamblers, receivers of stolen property, thieves, burglars, or offenders of any kind.

He is to watch all disorderly houses or houses of ill-fame, and observe and "report to his commanding officer all persons by whom they are frequented; " to give the alarm in case of fire; to aid persons appealing to him for protection; to stop all undue noise or disorder on the street; and to make arrests for certain offences which are named in the book of Regulations, of which each member of the force is required to have a copy. He is not allowed to stop and converse with strangers or acquaintances, except for the purpose of giving them such information as they may ask for; nor to converse with any other Patrolmen, except to impart or receive information. He must not stop on his post, but must diligently patrol it, except when some suspicious light or person causes him to linger to watch it or him.

He must be exceedingly careful in making arrests, so as to take into custody the actual offender, and not an innocent person; and he is forbidden to use violence, unless it shall be necessary in order to overcome the resistance of his prisoner. If he cannot make arrest alone, or if he has good reason to believe that assistance is necessary, it is his duty to summon another officer, by rapping with his club upon the pavement, and in the meantime to call upon the bystanders for aid . A refusal to assist an officer when called upon constitutes a misdemeanor, and the offender is liable to arrest.

"It is common cant, that a policeman is always present, except when wanted. In the lower part of New York this is an unjust charge. How far will you walk in the region of Canal street, for instance, before meeting a policeman, that is, if you look for one, for it is his policy to remain inconspicuous? Lower Broadway, dim and gloomy at midnight, is full of police, furiously shaking at the handles of the doors, to be sure that all are securely locked, peering through the little peep-holes of the iron shutters, to see that no burglars are at work in the stores where lights are left burning all night, or that an incipient fire is not working insidious destruction; lurking out of sight in shady doorways, while they watch suspicious loungers; or standing in groups of two or three on the corners where two posts intersect, and a Roundsman has happened to join them.

Leaving Broadway, and glancing down dark and fearful back streets, like Bayard or Elizabeth, West, Houston or Sullivan, you are sure to see the flickering light of the street lamps, and the ruddy glare of red-sign lanterns, reflected from the silver shield and brass buttons. Go where you may, you meet these erect and wide-awake watchmen. They are strolling through the deserted avenues of Washington Market; they are keeping an eye on rogues in Madison Square; they are pulling silently in and out of the shadows of the great ships lying asleep at the wharves; they are dosing as "reserves" in the thirty four station-houses, ready on telegraphic summons to go to the care of a fire or the subduing of a riot. The worshiper, coming from his weekly prayer-meeting, finds the policemen at the door, enforcing his coveted quiet.

The family that goes for a day's recreation at Rockaway, is sure that its pleasure will not be spoiled by rowdyism, for a group of officers stand on the deck, seemingly absorbed in the magnificence of the summer's morning on the Bay; yet ready, ready! Wander where we will in this vast city, the ruffian or vagrant cannot get away from the law. It follows him into his home, waits at all his resorts for amusement, and can often tell him better than he knows himself what he has been doing for twenty-four hours. The power of the police over the lower and evil circles of society is enormous; they have a mortal fear of the force. They know that behind that silver shield there resides indomitable courage, and in that closely buttoned coat are muscles of iron and nerves of steel.

Yet in spite of all this, the policeman's life is full of danger. He must patrol streets that are known to be dangerous, narrow alleys, without a light along their course, where a well delivered blow from a slung shot, a skillfully aimed thrust from a knife, or a bullet from a revolver would make an end of him before he could summon help. He is an object of hatred, as well as of fear, to the dangerous classes, and they do not hesitate to take any advantage of him. Yet, whatever the danger, however great the odds, the policeman must face it all, and to the honor of the force be it said, he does not shrink.

The Uniform of the Policeman

The uniform of the force is a long blue coat, of heavy cloth, buttoned to the throat, with a row of brass buttons. A silver shield is worn on the left breast, with the arms of the city and the number of the officer upon it. A stout cloth helmet covers the head, and is also adorned with the wearer's number, enclosed in a wreath. A baton of heavy wood is suspended from a belt at the waist, and at night a club of greater length takes its place. This is provided with an ornamental but stout cord, by means of which the officer secures the club to his wrist when using it. A loaded revolver is carried night and day in the hip pocket. In the warm season a light blue blouse is worn in place of the heavy coat. The members of the force are required to be neat in their dress, and must come on duty with freshly polished boots or shoes. Untidiness in dress is punished.